An Overview of Mountainside Montessori
There are so many questions about Montessori Schools, what they are and how they work. There are also many resources and answers on the internet, so take a look at some of them and see which appeal to you. Finding a definitive answer for everyone’s question is not easy because we all see things differently, but here is a good example from Wikipedia. It also contains a lot of resources and explanations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori education. Let’s do a comparison of some highlights about Montessori and traditional schools.
Montessori Traditional
No set lesson plan. Children determine direction Lesson plans are pre-set per grade.
Children set own schedule. Teachers work within a time frame.
Students explore and discover Education plans adhered to.
Concrete ideas Abstract Ideas
Reality structured Role playing and fantasy
Students Order and Responsibility No sense of order for students
Child oriented environment Teacher oriented
Teachers as guides only Environment controlled by teachers
Freedom of movement and expression Teacher controls activity
Disorderly conduct is teachers fault. Punishment for disorderly conduct
These are basic ideas that are compared and there are many more ideas to compare. One good resource is http://www.montessoriint.com/the-montessori-method/comparison-between-montessori-traditional-education/. It is evident that the Montessori model is much more geared to freedom for a child to learn at their own pace and that traditional schools are more structured, which is what most of us are accustomed to seeing. Each family needs to decide which method is most suited to their personal goals.
Montessori classrooms are designed in three-year age brackets, such as age 6-9, rather than one age traditional per class. This allows older children to help younger ones and for them to interact together freely. Neither do they emphasize textbooks, homework or grades. Students are responsible for their own progress. Visit our website at https://mountainsidemontessori.com/ and look through our wonderful programs and videos to get a true picture of our school, teachers and classes.
These are some very innovative and interesting ideas to consider when deciding about your child’s education. You will want to be an active participant in which ever choice you make, so get as much information as possible.